Africa definitely tops plenty of must visit places by wildlife lovers. With plenty of forests, national parks and reserves as well as plenty of savannah, Kenya plays a great host to plenty of animal and plant species. A good number of species are not indigenous in Kenya, but have been integrated and become part of Kenya’s wildlife heritage. Here are some exotic wildlife species in Kenya:
1. Sitatunga
The Sitatunga is an antelope species that is found mainly in swampy areas, and may sometimes be referred to as the marshbuck. Its origin is said to be Central African countries like DRC and Cameroon, but it can be found in Kenya as well. What sets this antelope apart from most others is the semi-aquatic nature of the Sitatunga and its comfort in water. Kenya’s Saiwa Swamp National Park, found a few kilometres from Kitale Town, has been known to host these animals, and it has earned the title ‘Home of the Sitatunga’.
2. Nile Crocodile
The Nile Crocodile is said to be Africa’s Largest crocodilian and can be traced back to areas around the Nile River Basin. Today, the crocodiles can be found in many rivers and parks like South Island National Park in Kenya, as well as in Southern Africa countries. It should be noted that while the Nile crocodiles are an interesting reptile species, they are vicious carnivores and can feed on anything from humans to wildlife like zebras and even wildebeests.
3. Vervet Monkey
The Vervet monkey is one of the more popular monkey species of African descent, especially the Southern Countries, where most of the subspecies are found. The Vervet monkey has a black face and it is has grey fur on the body, with other parts being white. These monkeys are common in many National Parks like Ol Donyo Sabuk, Shimba Hills and Lake Nakuru amongst others, and they can be found in the Coastal areas as well.
4. Aardwolf
The Aardwolf is a mammal that feeds on insects and burrows underground to find shelter. It is said to have its origins in South African countries and the name has Afrikaan influence. It is quite related to stripped hyenas, and some subspecies are found in parts of Kenya.
5. Striped Hyenas
This species of hyenas features dark stripes on its brown or grey body fur, as opposed to the spots found on Spotted hyenas. Striped Hyenas have facial features that are considered pretty big for their small body size and they live in areas that are mostly dry, bushy or rocky. The sub species found in Kenya is said to be the Sudanese striped Hyena, and it can be found in areas like the Sibiloi National Park and the Nairobi Animal Orphanage. Other subspecies trace their origin to Central Asia, India and some African and Arabian countries
6. Duiker
Duiker is a type of antelope that lives in the bush or in the forest, and there are many sub species, some of which are found in Kenya. They include the Blue Duiker, Red Duiker and bush Duiker which are found in Shimba Hills National Reserve. Other types include the Ader’s Duiker.
7. The Burmese Star Tortoise
The Burmese star is a tortoise species that is indigenous to the forest are in Burma. The species is thought to be nearing extinction, although a few are said to be in Kenya.
8. Ring-necked Parakeet
The ring-necked parakeet is a bird species that, like the name says, has a black or red ring on the neck. It is also referred to as rose-ringed parakeet and it has been spotted in Kenya, although the main subspecies trace back to other African countries and Asia.
9. House Crow
The House Crow is an exotic bird of Asian native that can be found in Kenya. It has black and grey feathers and it is said to be omnivorous. Through flying sometimes between ships, it has reached other parts of the world.
There are plenty of other exotic species that you get to know about during visits to National Parks and Reserves in Kenya. Do let us know about any others you encounter in the comments section below:
The House Crow may be described as exotic but nevertheless it is a ‘bird’ and as such has black and grey FEATHERS and not FUR as described above!